Combined table and rack unit



Sept. 21, 1965 w. M. BLOCK COMBINED TABLE AND BACK UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001.- ll, 1963 INVENTOR. BY fizz 00,6 01? Sept. 21, 1965 w. M. BLOCK COMBINED TABLE AND RACK UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1963 United States Patent 3,207,093 COMBINED TABLE AND RACK UNIT William M. Black, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Quaker Industries Inc., Antioch, Ill., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 315,646 7 Claims. (Cl. 108-16) The present invention relates to a novel furniture unit and more specifically to a novel unit which may be selectively used as a tray table or as a storage rack for supporting and storing other articles such as folded tray tables.

As will be understood, folding tray tables are frequently sold in sets which includes a plurality of tray tables and a rack or other suitable means for retaining and supporting the tables in a folded or collapsed condition when the tables are not in use. been suggested to construct the storage rack or unit in a manner such that it may be selectively used as an additional tray table or as a supporting rack. Certain of such heretofore proposed structures have been highly successful. However, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel unit which may be selectively used as a table or as a storage rack and embodying further significant improvements.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel combined tray table and storage rack having a frame structure adapted to be manipulated se- Llectively between a relatively compact upright rackproviding position and a relatively spread apart tableproviding position, which frame structure is constructed so as to facilitate manipulation between said positions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel combined tray table and storage rack unit including a frame structure and a table top at least partially detachably connected with the frame structure, which frame structure is adapted to be manipulated between a first relatively compact upright rack-providing position and a second laterally spread position for permitting final assembly of a table top member, which frame structure is self-supporting not only in the rack-providing position but substantially in said second mentioned position for facilitating assembly of the table top member.

A still further specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel combined tray table and rack unit of the above-described type having a frame structure including pairs of pivotally connected opposite side leg portions and latch means associated with both pairs of leg portions and adapted to be simultaneously manipulated for releasably securing the pairs of leg portions in desired relationships.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel combined table and rack structure of the above-described type which is of simple, economical and rugged construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tray table set including a combined table and rack unit incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a combined table and rack unit constructed in accordance with the present invention in a table-providing condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view taken from the righthand side of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the combined table and rack unit in a substantially completely collapsed position for storing or shipping;

It has heretofore FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the novel table and rack unit in greater detail; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a tray table of a type which may be included in the set shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a tray table set 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a combined tray table and storage rack unit 12 incorporating features of the present invention and one or more tray tables 14. As will be understood, the tray tables 14 are adapted to be unfolded and set up in the condition shown in FIG. 7 when they are to be used and the tray tables are adapted to be folded and collapsed and placed on the unit 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for storage purposes.

Each tray table 14 may be of known construction so that it needs not be described in detail. It suflices to state that each tray table 14 comprises a pair of inverted U- shaped frame members 16 and 18 having leg portions pivotally connected as at 20 to 22 as shown best in FIG. 7. A table top member 24 is provided with clip elements 26 so that it is adapted to be releasably connected to upper end or bight portions 28 and 30 of the frame members 16 and 18.

The unit 12 comprises frame members 32 and 34 having an inverted generally U-shaped configuration. The frame member 32 includes opposite side or leg portions 36 and 38 having upper ends connected by a bight portion or transversely extending member 40. The frame member 34 includes similar opposite side or leg portions 42 and 44 having upper ends joined by a transverse member 46. The transverse frame member 46 is slightly longer than the transverse member 40 so that the leg portions 42 and 44 are spaced farther apart than the leg portions 36 and 38. Furthermore, the leg portions 42 and 44 embrace the leg portions 36 and 38 and are respectively connected thereto by pivot pins 48 and 50. As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 6, Washer or spacer elements 52 and 54 are disposed on the pivot pins 48 and 50 respectively for maintaining the predetermined lateral spacing between the pairs of pivotally connected leg portions 3642 and 38-44 for a purpose to be described more in detail below.

In the embodiment shown wheels 56 and 58 are respectively mounted on inner sides of lower end portions of the legs 36 and 38 and wheels 60 and 62 are mounted on outer sides of lower end portions of the legs 42 and 44. Furthermore, the transverse member 46, while being at the same vertical height as the transverse member 40, is formed separately from and connected to the side portions 42 and 44 which have rearwardly and upwardly projecting extensions 64 and 66 connected by an upper end or bight portion 68. The upper end or bight portion 68 may be used as a handle for facilitating movement of the unit 12 across the floor, and the wheels permit the unit to function as a serving cart.

The unit 12 includes a tray or table top member 70 having a plurality of clips 72 and 74 connected to opposite marginal portions thereof. The clips 72 and 74 are adapted releasably to connect the top member to the transverse frame portions 40 and 46 of the frame struc ture. It is to be noted that when the unit is manipulated to a condition for serving as a storage rack as shown in FIG. 2, the tray or table top member 70 may be stored by connecting it so as to depend from the bight portion 40. On the other hand when the unit is to function as a table or serving cart, the table top member is disposed horizontally and connected to the bight portions 40 and 46 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is to be noted that the rearwardly and upwardly projecting extensions 64 and 66 of the frame leg portions 42 and 44 are joined to the remainder of the leg portions at corners or bends 76 and 78 disposed beneath the transverse member 46. The transverse frame member 46 is formed with arched opposite end portions 80 and 82 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the frame portions 64 and 66 and are deflected so as to position the straight intermediate section of the member 46 in a plane containing the longitudinal axes of the side frame leg portions 42 and 44 as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. In other wor ds, the transverse frame member 46 is positioned with respect to its associated side or leg portions 42 and 4-4 in substantially the same manner as the bight portion 40 is positioned with respect to its associated leg portions 36 and 38 so that when the unit is in a table-providing condition as shown in FIG. 4 the crossed leg portions are substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical plane containing the common axis of the pivot pins 48 and 50.

When the unit 12 is in the storage rack-providing condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame structures 32 and 34 are in a first relatively upright and laterally collapsed position and when the unit is in the table-providing condition shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the frame structures 32 and 34 are in a second laterally opened and relatively inclined and lowered position. In other words, when the frame members are in the first laterally collapsed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends thereof are relatively close together so that the unit requires a reduced amount of floor space for storage. On the other hand when the unit is in the table-providing position shown in FIG. 4 the ends of the frame members are spread relatively far apart so as to provide the table with a broader base and increased stability.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention the unit 12 is provided with novel latch and support means for releasably retaining the frame structures 32 and 34 in the rack-providing position and for facilitating manipulation of the frame structures to the table-providing position. In addition, the latch and support means is adapted to retain the frame structures substantially in the table-providing position for facilitating assembly of the table top member. The latch and support means comprises links or latch members 84 and 86 respectively pivotally connected to the leg portions 36 and 38 by pins 88 and 90 below the pivot pins 48 and 50. The link 84 has a thickness not substantially greater than the spacer 52 and extends between the legs 36 and 42 and, similarly, the link 86 has a thickness no greater than the thickness of the spacer 54 and extends between the legs 38 and 44. The links or latch members 84 and 86 are of identical construction and respectively include elongated slots 92 and 94 having abutment surfaces 96 and 98 at ends thereof spaced outwardly from their associated pivot pins 88 and 90. In addition the links 84 and 86 are respectively formed with upwardly and outwardly inclined notches 100 and 102 communicating with mid portions of the slots 92 and 94.

Latch pins 104 and 106 are fixed to the leg portions 42 and 44 slightly above the pivot pins 88 and 90. The latch pins respectively include shank portions 108 sl-idably extending through the slot of their associated latch or link member and enlarged head portion 110 overlying the inner surface of their associated latch member or link. When the frame members 32 and 34 are in the laterally collapsed rack-providing position shown in FIG. 2, the latch pins 104 and 106 extend into the notches 100 and 102 so that the frame members are releasably secured in the rack-providin g position.

When it is desired to convert the unit 12 from the rack shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the table or cart shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 an operator must first release the latch members 84 and 86 or, in other words manipulate the latch members so as to disengage the pins 104 and 106 from the notches 100 and 102. This action is accomplished by raising the outer ends of the latch member. In

order to facilitate the manipulation of the latch members, a transverse member 112 extends between and is secured to outer ends of the latch members or links 84 and 86. The member 112 serves as a connecting rod or handle so that the latch members may be manipulated simultaneously. It is further to be noted that the member 112 serves as a transverse brace for rigidifying the frame structure.

When the latch members are disengaged from the pins 104 and 106, the frame members 32 and 34 are free to pivot toward the relatively inclined position shown in FIG. 4. Such pivotal movement will be stopped by the abutment surfaces 96 and 98 at the ends of the slots. As indicated in FIG. 4 these abutment surfaces are spaced so that they will be located slightly outwardly from the pins 104 and 106 when the table top member 70 is fully assembled. In other words, while the latch pins and abutment surfaces 96 and 98 serve to support the frame members in an open condition so as to facilitate subsequent assembly of the table top member 70, it will nevertheless be necessary to collapse the frame members slightly toward each other in order to complete the assembly of the table top member. Thus the table top member 70 serves to retain the frame members in the final position shown in FIG. 4 and thereby functions to strengthen and rigidify the frame structure.

It is further to be noted that portions of the slots 92 and 94 extend from the notches and 102 toward the pivot pins 88 and 90. These portions of the slot are adapted to accommodate the latch pins 104 and 106 when the frame members 32 and 34 are folded to a substantially completely collapsed position such as shown in FIG. 5 for shipping or storage purposes.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims:

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A- combined table and rack for storing articles such as folding tray tables comprising first and second frame means each having opposite side leg portions, said leg portions of the first frame means respectively being paired with the leg portions of the second frame means, means pivotally connecting the paired leg portions intermediate ends thereof for enabling the frame means to be moved between a first relatively upright and laterally collapsed rack-providing position and a second relatively inclined and spread apart table-providing position, said frame means presenting portions for supporting articles such as tray tables to be stored when the frame means are in said first position, releasable latch means between said frame means selectively for releasably retaining the frame means in said first position and for retaining said frame means adjacent said second position, a table top member adapted to be disposed horizontally between and to be connected to said first and second frame means when said frame means are in said second position, said table top member being releasably connected to at least one of said frame means, said latch means including first and second latch members respectively disposed between adjacent leg portions of said first and second frame means, pivot means respectively connecting each of said latch members to one leg portion, each of said latch members extending from its pivot means to a second leg portion, each of said latch members including a transverse notch spaced from its pivot means, said latch means including a pin secured to each of said second leg portions and releasably engageable in said notch of an adjacent latch member, each of said latch members including an end portion extending from its notch in a direction away from its pivot means and outwardly of said second leg portion, and a transverse member extending between and connected to said end portions of said latch members outwardly of said second leg portions for enabling the latch members to be manually manipulated simultaneously.

2. A combined table and rack as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said latch members includes an elongated longitudinally extending slot communicating with its associated notch for accommodating an associated pin when the frame means are moved between said first and second positions.

3. A combined table and rack as defined in claim 2, wherein the slot in each of said latch members extends substantially at opposite sides of its associated notch for accommodating the associated latch means pin and enabling the frame means to be moved both from said first position to said second position and to a third position in which the frame means are substantially fully laterally collapsed.

4. In a combined table and rack for storing articles such as folded tray tables, the combination comprising first and second frame means each having a pair of opposite side leg portions, the leg portions of said first frame means being paired with adjacent leg portions of said second frame means, pivot means pivotally connecting paired leg portions of said first and second frame means intermediate their ends for enabling said frame means to be moved between a first relatively upright and laterally collapsed rack-providing position and a second relatively spread apart and inclined table-providing position, and releasable latch means between said frame means selectively for releasably retaining said frame means in said first position and for retaining said frame means substantially at said second position for facilitating assembly of a table top member with said frame means when the frame means are in said second position.

5. In a combined table and rack for storing articles such as folded tray tables, the combination comprising first and second frame means each having opposite side leg portions, said leg portions of the first frame means respectively being paired with leg portions of the second frame means, pivot means pivotally connecting the paired leg portions intermediate their ends for enabling the frame means to be moved between a first relatively upright and laterally collapsed rack-providing position and a second relatively spread-apart and inclined table-providing position, first and second latch members respectively pivotally connected to said leg portions of one of said frame means and extending to adjacent leg portions of the other frame means, cooperable latch elements on said last-mentioned leg portions for interengagement with said latch members, said latch members and said cooperable elements including selectively engageable abutment surfaces for retaining said frame means in said first position, a transverse member extending between and connected to said latch members for enabling the latch members to be manually manipulated simultaneously, said first and second frame means respectively including transverse frame members adjacent upper ends thereof for connection to a table top member when the frame means are in said second position, said second frame means including extensions of its leg portions projecting above and laterally outwardly from its transverse frame member, and another transverse frame member connecting upper ends of said extensions and providing handle means for facilitating manipulation of the combination, said extensions of said leg portions being joined to the remainder of said leg portions at bends disposed beneath said first mentioned transverse frame member of said second frame means, which first mentioned transverse member is disposed in a plane substantially containing longitudinal axes of the portions of said last mentioned leg portions below said bends.

6. A, combination as defined in claim 5, wherein latch members are disposed below said pivot means and said transverse member is substantially rigid and also serves to brace lower parts of said leg portions.

7. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said latch members include elongated slots and said cooperable elements include pins extending through said slots, said cooperable abutment surfaces including notches formed transversely in said latch members and communicating with said slots for accommodating said pins, said slots extending substantially on opposite sides of said respective notches for enabling said frame means to be moved not .only from said first position to said second position but also to a third position in which the frame means are substantially fully laterally collapsed for storage purposes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,402,024 1/22 Stein 108-1 15 1,790,468 1/31 Franks et al l08-l17 1,982,205 11/34 Dornan l08l17 2,965,236 12/60 Klein 108-16 2,998,884 9/61 Klein 108-16 3,017,034 1/62 Klein 108-16 3,053,396 9/62 Brown IDS-16 3,099,355 7/63 Burnett l081 19 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED TABLE AND RACK FOR STORING ARTICLES SUCH AS FOLDING TRAY TABLES COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEANS EACH HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE LEG PORTIONS, SAID LEG PORTIONS OF THE FIRST FRAME MEANS RESPECTIVELY BEING PAIRED WITH THE LEG PORTIONS OF THE SECOND FRAME MEANS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE PAIRED LEG PORTIONS INTERMEDIATE ENDS THEREOF FOR ENABLING THE FRAME MEANS TO BE MOVED BETWEEN A FIRST RELATIVELY UPRIGHT AND LATERALLY COLLAPSED RACK-PROVIDING POSITION AND A SECOND RELATIVELY INCLINED AND SPREAD APART TABLE-PROVIDING POSITION, SAID FRAME MEANS PRESENTING PORTIONS FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES SUCH AS TRAY TABLES TO BE STORED WHEN THE FRAME MEANS ARE IN SAID FIRST POSITION, RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEANS SELECTIVELY FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID FRAME MEANS IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND FOR RETAINING SAID FRAME MEANS ADJACENT SAID SECOND POSITION, A TABLE TOP MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN AND TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEANS WHEN SAID FRAME MEANS ARE IN SAID SECOND POSITION, SAID TABLE TOP MEMBER BEING RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FRAME MEANS, SAID LATCH MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND LATCH MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED BETWEEN ADJACENT LEG PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEANS, PIVOT MEANS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTING EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS TO ONE LEG PORTION, EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS EXTENDING FROM ITS PIVOT MEANS TO A SECOND LEG PORTION, EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS INCLUDING A TRANSVERSE NOTCH SPACED FROM ITS PIVOT MEANS, SAID LATCH MEANS INCLUDING A PIN SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SECOND LEG PORTIONS AND RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE IN SAID NOTCH OF AN ADJACENT LATCH MEMBER, EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS INCLUDING AN END PORTION EXTENDING FROM ITS NOTCH IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM ITS PIVOT MEANS AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID SECOND LEG PORTION, AND A TRANSVERSE MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTED TO SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS OUTWARDLY OF SAID SECOND LEG PORTIONS FOR ENABLING THE LATCH MEMBERS TO BE MANUALLY MANIPULATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. 